C12 Chapter 12

In a moment like this, Bai Ni’an couldn’t hold on to any of her usual starlet poise. She only hated that she couldn’t come up with something even more vicious to grind Bai Nuochu into the dirt.

“Miss Mystery comes from nothing, yet she’s caught Young Master Jue’s eye. How does that comparison make you feel, Vivian?”

“Miss Bai Ni’an has always presented herself as someone very close to Young Master Jue. But now the one he’s protecting is another Cinderella. Does that make you feel like the one who’s insignificant in this relationship is you?”

“A chart-topping diva versus a nobody Cinderella—after an outcome like this, even Miss Bai Ni’an can’t help being jealous, right?”

Unlike the cautious probing from earlier, Bai Ni’an’s words had turned sharp, and the whole press pack lit up. The questions came faster and harsher, each one like it was meant to chip away at the flawless, untouchable halo that had always surrounded her. Cameras locked onto Bai Ni’an from every angle, and microphones were shoved so close they were practically in her mouth.

“What do you mean I’m jealous? She’s trash. Her mom tried every trick in the book and still couldn’t steal a man, so trash is in her blood—every last cell of her!”

The medication still hadn’t fully worn off. And after being put through the wringer by Gu Lijue until she could barely keep her thoughts together, Bai Nuochu’s slender body trembled on instinct when she heard Bai Ni’an shamelessly insulting her late mother.

“Get out. All of you. Keep bothering me, and I’ll see how many rounds of blacklisting your magazines can survive from Gu’s.”

Gu Lijue didn’t raise his voice, but the pressure in it was suffocating. The reporters—who’d been worked into an even bigger frenzy after digging up information about the mysterious girl’s mother, ready to fire off more rapid, razor-sharp, blood-drawing questions—fell instantly silent.

He pressed Bai Nuochu against his broad chest. Listening to his calm, commanding voice, she could feel the low vibration in his chest.

Young Master Jue had made his ultimatum clear. Everyone there was a top-tier reporter, but not a single one dared try to test Gu Lijue for an opening.

Even though they couldn’t have been more reluctant, everyone still hurried out of the room without wasting a second.

At that moment, a gloomy voice cut in.

“It’s Second Young Master Gu.” The reporters turned around, and the regret on their faces instantly flared back into hope.

A flash of malice crossed Gu Zongyue’s eyes. Second Young Master Gu. Second Young Master Gu. As long as Gu Lijue was around, Gu Zongyue would always be nothing more than a shadow.

He was clearly Gu Lijue’s cousin—clearly the Gu family’s eldest grandson. Yet because of Gu Lijue, people racked their brains to justify the story that he’d once had an older sister who died young, just so they could keep calling him “Second Young Master.”

Did these fools really think Gu Zongyue was just some playboy? Gu blood ran in his veins—there was no way he’d be stupid enough to lose his head over lust. Did Bai Ni’an really think she’d bewitched him?

Bai Ni’an was nothing more than a pawn in his hand.

But now, things were starting to get a lot more interesting.

“Lijue, you can kick the reporters out right now,” Gu Zongyue said to Gu Lijue, wearing an expression of pure concern. “But later, you won’t be able to kick the Gu’s board of directors out.”

The reporters, who should’ve backed off, didn’t dare cross the line—but with Gu Zongyue bringing up the board, they didn’t leave either, terrified of missing a major scoop.

“Second Brother, you know I’ve never liked beating around the bush.” Gu Lijue looked at Gu Zongyue, his voice cold.

His commanding presence was overwhelming. There wasn’t a trace of embarrassment, even with his clothes in disarray in front of everyone—like he was sitting in a top-level Gu’s meeting, where every decision he made would only leave the directors in awe.

“Lijue, the Gu’s European operations have always been handled by your second brother. Things were fine for years, but this year the entire European authority was suddenly pulled back, and now the board has been watching the two of us like hawks...” Gu Zongyue said, putting on a united-front look.

“If Second Young Master Gu calls it ‘keeping the peace’ when Europe’s performance has dropped by more than thirty percent for three straight years, then I’m even more certain I made the right call ordering the board to move to impeach the candidate for European executive authority.” Before Zongyue could finish, Lijue cut him off, his voice cold.